How to Choose the Right Marble Molding？

by Julia
Last updated March 13, 2023

Marble moldings come in different forms and profiles. We can also customize them, as natural marble is rich in different colors and patterns.

While these are good things to know, selecting the best molding for your space can be tough because there are plenty of options.

But if you follow these steps, you can narrow your choices quickly.

determine the marble molding’s area of installation
measure the dimensions of the area
set your project’s budget
select the marble of your choice
pick the molding’s finish
select the marble molding’s profile

Explore this article for complete explanations of each step and use them as your guide.

What Is a Marble Molding?

A molding, moulding (for British English), or coving (in Australia and the United Kingdom), is a casing or transitional element for different building surfaces. A perfect example is skirting, which we use to cover the gap between the walls and the floors for a smoother transition.

We also use moldings to outline or decorate edges, such as with an architrave (the design surrounding the door frame). Using the natural beauty of marble as the primary material, they accent the area in an elegant yet non-dominating manner.

Marble moldings also have a very practical use, which is to seal the indoors with an air-tight fit. This ensures energy efficiency and protection from external elements or pests that may contaminate our homes.

Where Do We Use It?

1. Skirting. As mentioned, we install skirting boards to cover the gap between the walls and the floor. The gap may be unpleasant to see. Hence marble molding is an example of what we can put.

2. Architrave. Also referred to as the door frame molding, the architrave is the detail surrounding the door. We like using marble moldings for this area because they are fire-safe, aside from their decorative appearance.

3. Window Frame. Not only a closed window is essential to keep off outdoor elements, but also an air-tight frame. A marble molding is preferable as the material is resistant to typically harmful factors in other materials, such as impact and moisture.

4. Cornice. It also works like a crown. The cornice is an ornamental molding located at the top of the wall and below the ceiling if installed as interior decoration. On the exterior, the cornice helps direct rain away from the building walls for protection.

For both of these purposes, marble molding will do the trick. The material is both decorative and safeguarding.

5. Structural Beams. These beams are essential to support the weight of the roof. If it’s a multistory building, they also support the above walls, ceiling, and floors.

Structural beams may show in the ceiling as straight lines of concrete or wood and may not be aesthetically pleasing. In this case, we can decorate them using marble moldings to match the interior design.

6. Chair Rail. We install chair rail moldings to protect the walls from chairs when the latter bumps and causes an impact. Like skirtings, marble molding is always used to protect the walls, even from fixtures and furniture.

Simple Steps in Selecting a Marble Molding

Now that we have defined what marble molding is, we will share what you must consider when choosing the perfect one for your project.

1. Determine the Marble Molding’s Area of Installation

Some homeowners thinking of adding marble moldings to their places aren’t yet 100 percent sure which specific area(s) they want to install.

You might want to decorate more than one part of the house.

We first have to decide where to install the moldings so we can handle the proceeding steps smoothly. Examples of the latter are measuring the material’s length and determining the budget.

2. Measure the Dimensions of the Area

By this stage, we have already selected the parts of our homes or buildings where we want to install marble molding.

May this be a window frame or an architrave, we have to measure their dimensions—emphasis on the height and length, since the width of the marble molding can depend on our preferences or will be determined with an expert’s help.

3. Set Your Project’s Budget

In the first two steps, we built our expectations on the marble molding by knowing where to install them and measuring how much we need.

To touch reality, it’s essential to determine and set the budget for the entire construction or renovation process. Some of the things that we want to consider in money matters include the following:

price of marble moldings
transportation fee
labor fee
other materials necessary for installation (unless combined with the labor fee)

We also recommend setting aside enough contingency funds in case an unprecedented situation occurs; an example can be discovering that your walls need repairs while we are about to install the marble skirting.

4. Select the Marble of Your Choice

Sinodec works with different projects that can either be commercial or residential. We always consider the interior in these two since functionality and aesthetics are our priorities.

At this stage, we want to consider the interior and exterior design. Some buildings follow a theme in their spaces, especially the interior. It’s essential to take note of that to help you or the supplier in the selection of the marble for the molding.

The exterior of the building may or may not have a particular design. If the latter, we want to look at the wall color or the objects surrounding the property to help us select the right molding color and profile.

5. Pick the Molding’s Finish

In marble moldings for the interior, you can never go wrong with a polished finish. This Golden Phoenix skirting and molding is an example, and the neutral color can match almost any style.

If we install the marble molding on the building’s exterior, we do not recommend a polished finish as the scratches will be more visible. What we advise is a honed and tumbled finish.

Honed – the marble molding will have a smooth and matte finish, which is also the preceding stage before the marble gets polished.

Tumbled – as described, the marble molding will have a “buffed” finish. It will have a naturally weathered and antique look, even in aesthetics.

Although there are various finishes, they do not affect the quality and durability of the molding.

6. Select the Marble Molding’s Profile

The profile of the marble molding is the way how it’s cut. There are no particular rules in choosing a profile; it’s a matter of preferences. Unless your place follows a theme like the classic Victorian interior, then we can suggest a Victorian trim as well.

As for our top profile picks, we have three of them, which are the following;

French Style Profile – the marble molding will be of medium thickness (neither too thin nor too thick) and elegantly plain

Torus Profile – has quite a big curve or arch in the front, followed by a groove.

Bullnose Profile – a classic marble molding with a round edge

Conclusion

There are various places where we can install marble molding; around the door, window, wall, and even the structural beams. However, the challenge comes when selecting the perfect molding, as there are many choices.

We outlined six steps to help our clients pick the suitable marble molding for them, which are: